Habakkuk11I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message[A]message: Or “vision.” that the LORD gave me.Habakkuk Complains to the LORD2Our LORD, how long must I begfor your helpbefore you listen?How long before you save usfrom all this violence?3Why do you make me watchsuch terrible injustice?Why do you allow violence,lawlessness, crime, and crueltyto spread everywhere?4Laws cannot be enforced;justice is always the loser;criminals crowd out honest peopleand twist the laws around.The LORD Answers Habakkuk5 Look and be amazedat what's happeningamong the nations!Even if you were told,you would never believewhat's taking place now.6 I am sending the Babylonians.They are fierce and cruel—marching across the land,conquering cities and towns.7How fearsome and frightening.Their only laws and rulesare the ones they make up.8Their cavalry troops are fasterthan leopards,more ferocious than wolveshunting at sunset,and swifter than hungry eaglessuddenly swooping down.9They are eager to destroy,[B]eager to destroy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.and they gather captiveslike handfuls of sand.10They make fun of rulersand laugh at fortresses,while building dirt moundsso they can capture cities.[C]dirt mounds … cities: Attacking armies often build dirt mounds against city walls to make it easier for them to climb the wall and capture the city.11Then suddenly they disappearlike a gust of wind—those sinful people who worshiptheir own strength.Habakkuk Complains Again12Holy LORD God, mighty rock,[D]mighty rock: The Hebrew text has “rock,” which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the LORD to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.you are eternal,and we[E]we: Hebrew; one ancient Jewish tradition “you.” are safe from death.You are using those Babyloniansto judge and punish others.[F]You … others: Or “You will judge and punish those Babylonians.”13But you can't stand sin or wrong.So don't sit by in silencewhile they gobble up peoplewho are better than they are.14The people you put on this earthare like fish or reptileswithout a leader.15Then an enemy comes alongand takes them captivewith hooks and nets.It makes him so happy16that he offers sacrificesto his fishing nets,because they make him richand provide choice foods.17Will he keep hauling in his netsand destroying nationswithout showing mercy?